The Trocadero Cinema and Ballroom, Junction of Scraptoft Lane and Uppingham road, Leicester

Later - The ABC Trocadero / Alpha Bingo Club

Above - The Leicester Trocadero during the run of the film 'Two
Way Stretch' with Peter Sellers - Courtesy Brian
Wolloff who was the last Chief Projectionist at the Trocadero
whilst under the ownership of ABC Cinemas.

A new style of entertainment complex opened in Leicester in 1931, being a large Cinema, Café, and Ballroom, all set in
alpine gardens occupying a three acre site. The Trocadero was situated
at the tram terminus at Humberstone, a district of Leicester. It was
built on a triangular site at the junction of Scraptoft Lane and Uppingham
road.

The Trocadero was built as a Cine-Variety theatre, with variety acts on stage prior to the main feature film programme being shown.

It was built by Bert Cole, a local builder and entrepreneur, to the
designs of Herbert Langham F.R.I.B.A. of Manchester.
It cost in the region of between £60,000 and £70,000, and
had 2,131 seats. The Ballroom could accommodate 500 people and the cinema
also boasted a free car park for 400 cars. The building was of red brick
and had an innovative ventilation system, being able to warm or cool
air as it was filtered.

Right - A programme for a 'Full Variety Programme' at the Leicester
Trocadero for Monday the 7th of May 1934 - Courtesy David
Garratt.

The interior design of the auditorium was colourful with the ceiling
being painted to create a sunset effect. The main foyer was spacious
and luxurious, featuring a marble terrazzo floor in which was set a
large star motif.

The Trocadero opened on the 1st October 1931 with the Lord Mayor Councillor
H. Carver, JP, present and a personal appearance of Dodo Watts, the
British film star.

The opening film was 'Toast of the Legion' a musical comedy in Technicolour
featuring Bernice Claire and Walter Pidgeon. The opening variety bill on stage was George Durante in 'a sensational wire act' and the
Haden-Herbert Four. Music was provided by Jimmy Campbell and his band.

Above - A programme for a 'Full Variety Programme'
at the Leicester Trocadero for Monday the 7th of May 1934 - Courtesy David Garratt. On the Bill
were Leon and his Orchestra, Les Apaches, Nixon Grey, Spoldi & Paril,
Dainty maids, Van Dusen, Jerez & Howard, Ward & Albee, and on
the screen; Comedy and Movietone News.

The Cinema opened at 2.30pm daily until 10.30pm in the evening with
a change of film programme on Thursdays.

It was advertised as 'The Wonder Theatre of Leicester' with the slogan
'Meet Me At The Trocadero'

Eventually films began to fall from popularity with the advent of television
and the Trocadero went over to Bingo. However one night the stage curtains
caught fire during a Bingo session and the cinema had to be evacuated.
It became an inferno and the cinema was lost.

The Trocadero had been a super cinema complex in its heyday offering
good varied entertainment to the citizens of Humberstone and Leicester.

Left - Back of a programme for a 'Full Variety Programme' at the
Leicester Trocadero for Monday the 7th of May 1934 - Courtesy David
Garratt.

(A visitor to the site, Brian Wolloff, who has
sent in many of the photographs on this page,
says: 'I was the last Chief Projectionist at the Trocadero, Leicester
until my employer, ABC Cinemas gave up the lease in November 1966. The
cinema was then taken over by Weston Enterprises who continued to run
it as a bingo hall until it was destroyed by fire in September 1967.
The site was then acquired by Shell to build a petrol station.' Brian
Wolloff.